The Reluctant Beauty(17)
“I don’t run.”
“Really? Could have fooled me. Word’s out on the street that you left your band. Broke it up after ten years.”
His heart stilled. There was only one person he’d talked to about that. His buddy who had possession of his guitar at the moment. It was a thought, just a thought, he’d spoken out loud on one of his lowest days on the tour.
“Talking about trying to replace you. Who could ever live up to it? Would anyone accept the band without the founder? You know. All over those shows.” He nodded to his tucked away office and Austin could hear the blare of the TV set.
A chill went through his body. There’d be questions. Lots of them. Statements wanted. Interviews desired, sought after, chased after to obtain. How in the world was he ever going to hide from the press and the public now?
Chapter 7
He’d tucked away his phone, silencing the ring, last night after speaking with his sister, Evelyn. He’d never checked on the text messages coming in, never missing the constant blaring and demands from the industry.
Now, he refused to contact anyone. He needed time. Time to figure out what his next move would be. Time to make a plan.
Marcus and his wife, Francie, hand delivered the boxes of food.
“Here, Bruno, I brought your favorite,” Marcus said, handing over a meal.
The guard smacked his lips. “Now which favorite could it be? You’re the best, Marcus. You go on up and get Peg and her family set up. Stop by and chat some before you head out.”
“Will do,” Francie said.
“No baby with you tonight?”
“Can you believe Mother and the Colonel are babysitting Madeline tonight so we can finally have a date night?”
“Her?!” He shook his head. “As I live and breathe, I would never have guessed that.” He walked away, muttering to himself, still clearly stunned at the news.
The couple chuckled. “We would have never believed it either, Bruno,” the woman called after him.
“Nice to meet you. Friend of Peg’s?” Marcus’s question sounded innocent enough, but there was an underlying tone.
“New friend. Actually, I’m Evelyn’s half-brother.” He shook Marcus’s hand and then nodded to the man’s wife.
“No way! Evelyn never told me about you. And I worked with her in the wedding boutique,” Francie said as they walked across the marble floor.
“You’re the Francine King?” Austin asked, recalling his sister’s words of praise. “Ev adores you.”
“It’s mutual, I assure you,” Francie said. “But why?”
He grimaced. “Different fathers. Different last names. She doesn’t want to ride my coattails. But I’d do anything for her.” Even stay away so she could carve out her own life.
“Makes sense,” Marcus said. “People want to make it on their own. Evelyn’s a go-getter. By the way, I used to be her boss, when I temporarily was in charge of the store.”
Austin recalled his sister’s stories. Hers was the only call he welcomed each week while on the road. Her funny stories, store gossip, and her delight in her job made him laugh right along with her and miss her even more. Maybe it was because he wanted to be a part of something that brought him that kind of joy was one of the reasons he lingered here now.
He could have walked out that door just as Bruno suggested. But his feet were planted firmly and he didn’t have any desire to run.
That brought him up short.
“Which way?” Francie asked.
“Housewares, is it?” He scratched his head, literally and figuratively.
He’d barely seen his sister at breakfast this morning. He had no connection with the store himself. The Newbury family was funny, but invasive, and pushing Peg to fit in with their ideal of what her life should be.
He didn’t have to stay. But he did.
It was all because of a funny, sexy, long-legged, fantastic kisser named Peg.
***
Peg sucked in a sharp breath when he rounded the corner. He led her friends toward her. But when he looked up, catching her stare, her knees nearly gave out.
Holy hotness was gazing at her as if he could eat her up.
“Yeah, right,” she muttered under her breath. “As if I would ever be that lucky.” She snorted. “In my dreams.”
His slow, sexy smile did strange things to her heart. Nah, can’t be.
“Boss, Francie, thanks for saving my tail. I owe you. Big time,” Peg said, going to help with unloading the boxes of food. She did everything in her power to avoid looking at Austin and his hotness again.
Her family gathered around. Peg introduced them, ending with, “Boss, I swear I’ll pay it all back.” She crossed her chest. “Cross my heart, hope to die.”